The Nigerian Police and the Independent Corrupt practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) have agreed to terms on a synergy to advance the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
The synergy between the Police and ICPC on war against corruption was the crux of a meeting between the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase and the Chairman of ICPC, Barrister Ekpo Nta at the ICPC Headquarters, Abuja.
The Police and the ICPC resolved to start first by synergizing efforts in engaging officers of the two institutions on intelligence training capable of making them respond rapidly to the challenges of containing crimes in Nigeria.
Speaking during the occasion, the Chairman of ICPC expressed hope on the decision of his agency to collaborate with the Police on equipping their officers with trainings.
He said that “The closing of ranks between ICPC and the Police Force will make us become consultants to the world on security in the very nearest future”.
Ekpo Nta said with the deployment of technology in the Police Force and its disposition of zero tolerance to corruption, which involves police and citizen’s interface, in no distant future, men and officers in the Police would be very proud to work under Arase.
“I want to use this opportunity to sincere thank the Nigerian Police Force for its strategic support to the ICPC since our inception in year 2001. They provided for so many years the headship of our investigation department.
“We of course rely extensively on Police Commissions all over the country during investigations and arrests. Anywhere we go to, the first person we call upon is the Commissioner of Police or DPO as the case might be”, he added.
Ekpo Nta, described the Inspector General of Police as a seasoned and result-oriented officer, who he stressed has been displaying good initiatives in any capacity he had worked within the Nigerian Police ever becoming the IGP.
He used the opportunity to call on Nigerians to encourage and support the Police Force in other the for men and women of the Force to be able to discharge their duties efficiently.
Earlier, the Inspector General of Police, while promising more collaborative efforts with ICPC in the fight against corruption, suggested that both ICPC and the Police should engage in joint training of their officers in their different training institutions across the country.
He said that “One of the areas I think we can further cement our relationship is by our ability to encourage joint training in our various training Institutions.
“I have an intelligence school, which I set up about three years ago. I have extended a hand of fellowship to some of your officers, it is an imperative ground for us to train each other, because if they train together, then they get to know themselves better”.
Arase said his visit to ICPC was to ensure that the drive by the Police on the anti corruption crusade is carried to a logical conclusion.
He said both the Police and the ICPC have greater roles to play in the fight against corruption because the Nigerian Police started by contributing immensely towards the birth of the ICPC, whereas, both government institutions have been able to cooperate and to seek for further collaboration.
He said, “When I came on board, I felt like it is time for us to start changing the narratives about the Nigerian police force. The perception about my boys on the highway, sometimes could be very rash and they could do things that most Nigerians find very uncomfortable. I have come up with some broad policy trust to reverse that trend”, he asserted.
Stating his stewardship since he assumed office, Arase said, “We have been able to remove road blocks from the highways, while we have placed motorized patrols to monitor the highways.
“We have also placed a technical platform where members of the public can effectively interact with us while monitoring the conduct of the men on the highway.
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